Spinal cord injuries can have a lasting and potentially permanent impact on your health, livelihood, and ability to enjoy life as you once did. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), there are about 17,900 new spinal cord injury cases each year in the United States or about 54 SCI cases per one million people.
Did you suffer an injury to your spinal cord in an accident in St. Louis? Was it someone else’s fault? If so, turn to the catastrophic injury lawyers at Sumner Law Group, LLC, for experienced and compassionate legal representation.
Time is limited to take action after a spinal cord injury. If someone else’s reckless, careless, or otherwise negligent actions caused you harm, let us help you seek fair compensation and justice. We can meet you at your hospital room, your home, or wherever is most convenient. Contact us now for a free consultation.
How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Occur?
Spinal cord injuries usually result from a violent blow to the spine that breaks, fractures, crushes, or compresses at least one of the 33 vertebrae that make up the spine. These vertebrae surround the spinal cord, which transmits messages from the brain to the rest of the nervous system. When the spinal cord is damaged, the effects may be debilitating, even life-altering.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries in St. Louis
Spinal cord injuries have a broad range of causes. Some of the most common include:
- Car accidents – Car accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries. A car crash can cause spinal cord injuries, including slipped discs, pinched nerves, fractured vertebrae, and can sometimes result in paralysis.
- Falls – Falls are another common cause of spinal cord injuries, especially SCIs that occur in the workplace. Falls from elevation or slips, trips, and falls are common causes of spinal cord injuries.
- Violent assault – In addition to car accidents and falls, assault is another common cause of spinal cord injuries. Acts of violence could result in the severing, crushing, or tearing of the spinal cord.
- Medical malpractice – Surgical errors and other types of medical malpractice can also result in devastating spinal cord injuries. When a surgical error damages the spinal cord, the consequences can be life-altering for the patient.
Different Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The four main types of spinal cord injuries depend on the location of the damage. They can range from moderate to severe. They include:
- Cervical spinal cord injuries – Cervical spinal cord injuries occur at the top of the spine near the head and neck area. They are often the most severe type of spinal cord injury, as they can cause paralysis in all four limbs.
- Thoracic spinal cord injuries – Thoracic spinal cord injuries occur in the middle of the spine. This type of spinal cord injury may affect the mid-back, abdominal area, and upper chest area. In most cases, thoracic spinal cord injuries don’t affect mobility in the arms and legs.
- Lumbar spinal cord injuries – Lumbar spinal cord injuries occur near the base of the spine and tend to affect the hips and legs but generally don’t affect the rest of the body. Individuals who sustain lumbar spinal cord injuries could require a wheelchair, walker, or leg braces for mobility.
- Sacral spinal cord injuries – Sacral spinal cord injuries are quite rare and occur near the spine’s base. Sacral spinal cord injuries may affect the hips and groin, buttocks, backs of the thighs, and pelvic organs. Sacral spinal cord injuries don’t usually impair a person’s ability to walk.
Consequences of a Spinal Cord Injury
Damage to the spinal cord could affect virtually every area of a person’s life, particularly if the injury causes paralysis. Other symptoms may develop over time, including sexual dysfunction, muscle spasms, pain and sensitivity issues, and more.
A spinal cord injury can also leave patients vulnerable to various medical conditions such as lung infections and pressure sores. An SCI may affect bladder control, bowel control, circulatory control, and other bodily functions.
Spinal cord injuries can significantly affect your ability to perform your job and to do day-to-day activities. That can lead to lost income and loss of enjoyment of life. In addition to the physical toll, a spinal cord injury can also be emotionally traumatizing.
No amount of money can completely undo the damage caused by your injury, but seeking compensation can help ease the financial burden and help you start to rebuild your life.
Potential Compensation Available in Spinal Cord Injury Cases in St. Louis
If you sustained a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, then you could be entitled to recover compensation for expenses related to your injury.
Compensation for a spinal cord injury may cover:
- Present and future medical costs related to your injuries
- Lost wages if you are unable to return to work due to your injuries
- Pain and suffering caused by the accident, including PTSD, emotional turmoil, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Disability accommodations
- Punitive damages, if appropriate
Contact A St. Louis Spinal Injury Lawyer for Help
If you have sustained a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence in St. Louis, contact one of our knowledgeable and compassionate spinal cord injury attorneys at Sumner Law Group, LLC right away. We will provide you with a no-cost case evaluation. If you hire us, we’ll represent you on a contingency fee basis. That means there is no upfront cost for our services, and we’ll only collect our fee if we recover compensation for you.
When your health and future are on the line, we’ll be ready to stand up and fight for you. Get your free consultation by calling us or contacting us online now.
